The VIN #1G1YY0784FS121XXX indicates it was built midway through the 1985 production year at which time a total of 39,729 Coupes were built.
This Corvette is Bright Red in color with a Graphite leather interior. The Bright Red paint was selected by the majority of buyers in the 1985 production year. The paint can be considered good, however, a few ‘road chips’ in the paint were noted.
It is powered by a modified 383 Lingenfelter built motor. A Lingenfelter conversion has been a growing modification for late model Corvettes especially the C5 Corvette (1997-2004). This one can be termed an early conversion. The original motor was retained and has been crated for future use should this Corvette be returned to factory original condition. The existing motor is coupled with a manual transmission.
This Corvette is equipped with the expected power steering, brakes and windows and also has air conditioning.
From a price perspective, few 1985 Lingenfelter Corvette conversions are found and offered for sale today. On a comparative basis, a Callaway Twin Turbo motor was offered in 1987-91 at an option price of $20-30,000 depending on the model year. In today’s market, the Callaway option will add $10,000 to the average resale price of a Corvette.
We place a value of $19,000 on this 1985 described Corvette Coupe based on the Callaway Turbo price rationale above.
Corvette Appraisals:
With Corvette values rising yearly, make sure your insurance coverage keeps up with your Corvettes value by having it appraised online at VetteFinders.com. Our online appraisals are only $69.95 and are usually completed within three business days. Click here to start your Corvette appraisal now.Source:VetteFinders.com Appraisal ServiceRelated:Corvette Generational Pricing Highlights of 2006Appreciating Corvettes: Top 12 Price Gainers of 2006Technorati Tags:Corvette |
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With the release of the Bloomington Gold Auction Results from Mecum Auctioneers, we getting some interesting insight into what may be happening with the Corvette Market. 295 Corvettes crossed the auction block during the three day auction weekend, with 145 being sold for a total of $8.2 million in Corvette Sales. That is a 49% sales success rate for the 2007 Gold Auction.
Comparing this year’s Gold auction to the 2006 Auction, we see declines in total cars available (295 vs 344), Sales totals ($8.2 million vs $10.4 million) and percentage sold (49% vs 56%). Okay, Keith. So what does that mean? It means that we may finally be moving back to an enthusiast-driven market, where Corvettes are being bought to be driven, instead of the Collector Market, where Corvettes are bought to be stored. Drivers almost always sell for less than trailer queens, which brings down the prices you see at auctions. A higher percentage of cars that don’t reach reserves and therefore don’t sell tell you that sellers were holding out for prices that didn’t materialize.
So this may be a slightly simplistic view of what’s happening to the overall Corvette market, but it does fit with some of the indicators we’ve seen and heard. I am a believer in trends so we’ll have to see if this continues with auctions that deal primarily with Corvettes.
But this auction did have Corvettes for the collectors. The top selling Corvette was lot #S67, a 1967 Corvette Convertible called “The Roby Price Car”. The Big Block 427 ci/435 hp Corvette carries a Bloomington Gold certificate and was part of the Special Collection back in 1991. It is one of the best documented 1967 Corvettes in existence, with Top Flight Awards in 1989, 2002 and 2003. The Corvette sold for $467,250 with commission.
The second highest-selling Corvette at the auction was a Riverside Red 1963 Corvette Coupe Z06 which sold for $367,500. This Corvette is 1 of 199 Z06 Coupes made in 1963 and has the rare (1 in 63) Big Tank option. There was another 1963 Corvette Z06 that sold for only $139,650. However, there was no write-up available on the Mecum site for this Corvette, and chances are it wasn’t a tanker like the other Z06.
The two 1953 Corvettes also did very well, maintaining the pricing trend we’ve seen over the last year. Lot #S91, Chassis #107, has a Bloomington Gold certificate and has just 120 on it since restoration. It sold for $296,625. Lot #S53, which sold for $283,500 is Chassis #210 and has been housed in a climate controlled garage with the same owner for the last 13 years.
Here are the SOLD results from the 2007 Bloomington Gold Auction:

Wow, I can’t believe we are nearing the end of June already. If you are wanting to get behind the wheel of a new or classic Corvette and have a little fun during summer, now is the time. The following six cars were highlighted in June’s Featured Corvettes Newsletter from VetteFinders.com. They are just a sampling of the 500+ Corvettes for sale on the internet’s first dedicated site for selling Corvettes.

Interested in receiving the Featured Corvettes newsletter? Click here to subscribe.
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Sales

The sponsoring dealer of my Corvette Club (Tampa Bay Vettes) received their allocation of the 2007 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car this week and offered club members a preview of the limited edition convertible Friday Afternoon. Ferman Chevrolet is offering the Corvette on a first come – first serve basis. MSRP is listed at $67,420 plus the $825 delivery charge.
The replica Pace Car is everything I thought it would be. The graphics are well done but not overpowering like the case in some previous years (remember 1998 anyone?). I especially liked the embroidered logos on the seats, the matching fuel rail covers and of course the “winged tire” Indianapolis 500 badge on the quarter panel. Someone told me when I was taking photos that I should just download them off the internet, because they would be better. I laughed and said “Yes, but these are mine!” So while this is old news, photos and all, the experience of seeing the car up close and personal makes it all new again. Car people would understand that.

So after the preview and some free pizza, the ride home turned out to be an event all unto itself. As it was a club event, I wore my uniform, the 1966 Corvette Convertible pictured below. And while the ride home normally takes about 25 minutes, I got caught in the middle of Florida afternoon rain shower. This is only the second time since 1993 that I’ve been caught in the rain and the first time since having the car painted. Needless to say, the cockpit leaked horrendously so I pulled under the Crosstown overpass until the worst pass. The joke about Florida is true…if you don’t like the weather, just wait 20 minutes. Soon, the heavy rain slowed to light sprinkles and I was able to finish my drive home.

Corvette Dealer Ken Fichtner posted the official pricing for the 2008 Corvette on the Corvette Forum. Prices listed include the three Corvette models: Coupe, Convertible and Z06 as well as the available options. Also listed is the new 4LT packages for coupes and convertibles which will set you back $8,005 and $8,600 respectively.
The three Corvette models base prices were increased $920 for coupes and convertibles and $1,000 for the Z06. Considering the Coupes and Convertibles come with the new LS3 which adds 30 horsepower, I would say that is a bargain.

Why do we like the Bloomington Gold High Performance Auction so much? It’s a pure Corvette event featuring over 500 Corvettes for sale, surrounded by the faithful who make the annual pilgrimage every year. Where other auctions are higher profile and attract the crazy money like Barrett-Jackson’s two events, the Corvette auction at Bloomington is a real harbinger of where the Corvette Market is.
And that’s why we are very interested in the two 1953 Corvette Roadsters that will be hitting the auction block. 1953 Corvettes are special because they were the first. For the most part these Corvettes were hand assembled and had their issues. It was more of a touring car than sports car with its 6 cylinder Blue Flame engine. The 300 Corvettes produced during the first year of the Corvette is the lowest production number for any year since and that is part of its mystique. While performance junkies have driven up the pricing of midyears and fuelies over the last five years, the 1953 Corvette has for the most part sat quietly by and waited for its turn.
So is 2007 the year the 1953 Corvette Roadster finally makes its move in the Collector Car market? These Corvettes don’t come up for sale very often, but already this year we’ve seen three 1953 Corvettes sell and with each sale, the bar is raised. And because of the low production, three Corvettes are significant as they represent 1% of the entire production quantity, and that’s making the assumption that all 300 are still around. In reality, the number is probably in the 250 range at best.
The trend started in January at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale. There, an NCRS Top Flight 1953 Corvette Roadster sold for $298,350. At the Houston Classic in May 2007, a 1953 Corvette Roadster was sold for $396,000. And then, just last weekend, the 1953 Corvette with a 12 year old Bloomington Gold certificate was sold for $440,000. All three sales prices include the auction commission.
Here are the two 1953 Corvettes being offered this weekend by Mecum at the Bloomington Gold Auction:

Lot S53 is expected to hit the block around 5:00pm on Saturday. It is Chassis #210 and has been housed in a climate controlled garage with the same owner for the last 13 years. The side curtains are included and stored in the trunk.
Lot S91 is expected on the block at 6:45pm on Saturday. The Roadster is Chassis #107 and has a Bloomington Gold certificate. The Corvette is matching numbers and has just 120 on it since restoration. It’s a complete Corvette with the Convertible top, Side Curtains, Jack and Handle. This will be the one to watch on Saturday.

This week in June is unique as there are two major events that are going on that will appeal to different parts of the Corvette Enthusiast spectrum.
The Bloomington Gold Corvette Show kicks of on June 14th and runs through the 17th at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. Judging for the Survivor class begins at 1:00pm. On Friday, the show will be in full swing with Gold and Benchmark judging underway and of course our favorite event, the Gold Auction begins at 3:00pm. We will have our usual preview of significant or unique Corvettes that we feel are that will be the ones to watch as the week progresses.
To follow the events online, visit the Bloomington Gold website.
The second major event we are following this week is Corvette Racings defense of their 24 hours of LeMans crown. As you know, the first half of the ALMS season hasn’t been all that exciting due to the lack of a competitor in the GT1 class. But all that changes in France as 15 cars are entered in the GT1 class. The team has one five LeMans championships in the last six years and this week the team may be facing their greatest challenge.
Qualifying for the 24 Hours of LeMans is Wednesday and Thursday. The Race kicks off for us in the United States on Saturday morning. As always, we will have updates following the progress of Team Corvette throughout the week.
I’d like to also thank Richard Prince of Richard Prince Photography for supplying us with several new photographs that will serve as our header this week. You can see more of Richard’s work at www.rprincephoto.com.
Source:Bloomington GoldCorvetteRacing.comwww.rprincephoto.comRelated:LeMans Preview: Corvette Racing Fastest In GT1 Pre-QualifyingTechnorati Tags:Corvette |
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Our brothers at the Corvette Blog informed us last week about the McMullen Collection and a 1953 Corvette that was being auctioned on Saturday. We got the news today that the Corvette, chassis number 157, sold for an astounding $440,000 which includes the 10% buyers commission.
The car was owned by John McMullen, a car dealer who owns a Pontiac GMC dealership in Troy, Michigan. McMullen, who is 79, had amassed a collection of 140 rare and valuable cars and decided that 73 of them must go. RM Auctions handled the gavel duty. Also included in the auction was a 1931 Duesenberg which sold for $1.35 million, a 1953 Buick Skylark and a 1953 Cadillac El Dorado which both sold for $450,000.
The 1953 Corvette Roadster was acquired 12 years ago following a fresh restoration and a Gold certificate from Bloomington. The selling price shatters the $125,000 – $175,000 estimate listed on the RM Auction’s website and was much higher than the 1953 Corvette Roadster which sold at Barrett-Jackson in January for $298,350. It will be interesting to see if these prices will have any effect on the sales of two 1953 Corvette Roadsters at this weekend’s Bloomington Gold Auction.
Sources:Corvette BlogDetroit Free PressGrand Haven TribuneRM AuctionsRelated:2007 Barrett-Jackson: $14.1 Million in Corvette SalesTechnorati Tags:Corvette |
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Probably the best part of this little remembered (or easily forgotten) B-list movie from 1999 that starred Ben Stiller was the custom stretch 1979 Corvette Limo that was the preferred ride for the movie’s arch-villain Cassanova Frankenstein, played by Geoffrey Rush. The Corvette was purpose-built for the movie by Cinema Vehicle Services in North Hollywood, California.
According to the eBay listing, the Corvette’s frame was extended to over 23 feet in total length, and the limo interior was added to include 2 more opposing seats, bar, lights and rear t-tops. Capping off the build was a black and silver custom paint job which makes the car appear to be that of a 1978 Corvette Pace Car.
Fans of the movie (there’s got to be one or two of you guys out there that remember the Shoveler or that fork-throwing guy) remember that the Mystery Men beat the hell out of the car with their tools. But that was actually a second car that would split open for the interior shots as well as take the abuse of the Mystery Men.

One of the most influential voices in the Corvette Collector market has recently started his own blog. Terry Michaelis, owner of ProTeam Corvette Sales has been posting for a month or so on tmichaelis.com, and already the blog contains some great information about buying classic Corvettes. His first blog post was actually in January following the sale of the Last Sting Ray at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale. Funny thing, he posted the video of the sale that I captured and shared here on CorvetteBlogger.com
A few years ago I was at the Winter auction in Kissimmee Florida when I noticed this guy wearing a ProTeam shirt. He was walking around a midyear Corvette that was second or third in line for the block. He had a cigar in his mouth and another 10 or so in his chest pocket. As he walked around the car, he ran his fingers along the outside wheel wells as his face maintained a sort of detached interest in the car. Yet you could tell that he was studying that Corvette hard. Right then I knew that this was a guy that knows Corvettes.
A mutual friend of ours is Bob Kroupa from Vette-N-Vestments. Bob provides our yearly Corvette Pricing Guide as well as serves as our online Corvette appraiser at VetteFinders.com. Bob once said that facts that Terry carries around with him is staggering. He’s got all those numbers in his head and can tell in just a minute or two whether or not a Corvette is original.
I’ve run into a Terry a couple of times since then, almost yearly at the Mecum auction held each January. He probably doesn’t remember me from Adam, but thatâ€™s all right. I always try to say hello.
ProTeam is sometimes derided in the hobby but I’ve never fully understood why. Terry and his staff travel the country buying investment-quality Corvettes and selling them at a profit. A buyer of a ProTeam Corvette can be guaranteed a super clean original Corvette that will provide a decent return on investment. And when you got 150 or so of these classics under one roof, that says something.
Whenever I see a new Corvette blog, I always try to say hi. It’s great that we are getting different viewpoints and the knowledge that Terry shares will make us all smarter when buying or selling Classic Corvettes. Stop by Terry’s blog and give him an online Corvette wave.
Related:Barrett-Jackson: The Last Sting Ray Fetches $660,000Technorati Tags:Corvette |
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Charles D. Fowler, III: I stopped subsribing to both after many years, and within a year or two of even having a “feature” article accepted and published, after meeting Corvette Fever execs at Carlisle. With the merger, I...

Jeff McKay: I also asked a local dealer and they knew nothing about it. How do I order it myself? I think that would be faster than trying to convince them they should know about it.

CrystalKnight: I have always loved the 63, one of my favorite classics of all time, and I have had a many sports cars…, owned and loved the C5 even though it was heavy and underpowered, owned and loved the C6 convertible. ….I...

CrystalKnight: I have always loved the 63, one of my favorite classics of all time, and I have had a many sports cars…, owned and loved the C5 even though it was heavy and underpowered, owned and loved the C6 convertible. ….I...

tonyman262: I have an 89 C4 & an 07 C6, both white. After seeing the CUE system; the daughter may get the 07, I NEED a C7 with the CUE system. The 89 C4 stays with me. The C7 (artic white of course) could just end up being the new...